President and Campaign Manager Jim Messina to Appear at Senate Dems Retreat

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) — President Obama and his re-election campaign manager Jim Messina will appear together Wednesday at an annual Senate Democrats retreat to be held at Nationals Park, campaign and Capitol Hill aides tell ABC News.

Both men are expected to address the meeting, which typically focuses on developing a policy agenda and political strategy for the coming election campaign. The event is closed to the public and the press.

“This is a much more informal atmosphere. This is not a speech per se, it’s a conversation with the president, one of our former colleagues, and we’re all looking forward to it,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters.

The joint appearance on Capitol Hill is apparently a first this election cycle for Obama and Messina, a former Hill staffer and deputy White House chief of staff.

It also follows Messina’s announcement Monday night that the campaign would change course and encourage support for a pro-Obama super PAC, Priorities USA Action. Aides said Tuesday that Obama “signed off” on the decision.